Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkien's amazing world nor do I make a profit off of what I write...

Ch 13: Breaking Point

In Nelyo's experience in Arda thus far, good things seldom lasted long. That unfortunately proved very true with Makalaurë.

Makalaurë was making steady progress with his healing until one of Curvo's and Tyelko's visit. The two younger Fëanorions were visiting together. After some debate, they gathered in Nelyo's tent. It wasn't as large as the healer's tent where Makalaurë was still staying, but the scent of illness didn't linger there. There they talked for quite some time. Or more accurately, Tyelko talked everyone's ears off much to Curvos' frustration and Nelyo's amusement. Makalaurë slowly began to relax as time went on and would occasionally write something in small notebook that Nelyo have given him. He would tilt the paper so that only Nelyo could see what was written there. Whatever it was made Nelyo crack up with laughter.

While they were spending time together, looming storm clouds darkened the landscape and made the already dark interior of the tent even darker. As the light faded, Curvo took it upon himself to go find some light. He returned presently with a lamp in each hand. He kept one and handed the other to Tyelko, who was sitting next to Makalaurë. Tyelko accepted the lamp before remembering that he had a note from Moryo to give to Nelyo. He handed the lamp to Makalaurë and pulled out the sealed letter. Tyelko turned to see that Makalaurë's face had lost all of its color and he was shaking as his eyes locked on the lamp. Mind racing, Tyelko quickly pulled the lamp away from his brother. Makalaurë watch the flames with undisguised fear. Nelyo and Curvo watched the whole thing with concern.

"Maka?" Tyelko asked, hoping he could figure out what was wrong. Eyes wide, Makalaurë shook his head once before limping out of the tent as quickly as his still healing body would allow.

"Wait, let me go talk with him," Nelyo said as they all went to follow their brother, "I don't want to overwhelm him."

Curvo and Tyelko both saw the sense in this and remained in Nelyo's tent, letting their older brother chase down Makalaurë. Nelyo found him back in the healer's tent. He was seated on his bed, the heel of his hand pressed to his forehead as he rocked back and forth.

"Maka?" Nelyo softly called. He got no response. Makalaurë remained lost in his mind.

"Hey, what's the matter, Song Bird?" Nelyo asked, using an old family nickname, coming over to sit next to the dark haired Elf. Makalaurë started at the closeness of his brother. He shied away before tugging out some paper and writing:

'Please don't call me that'.

"Why not?" Nelyo asked, confused. The answer made him feel sick.

'Because he called me that.'

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize that."

Makalaurë didn't acknowledge the apology. His gaze was far away, his breathing hitched as tears glittered in his eyes. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, while his whole body trembled. Nelyo gently placed a hand on his brother's cheek. Makalaurë flinched and pulled back.

"Please, toronya tell me what's wrong. You know you can trust me."

Makalaurë shook his head vehemently, retreating farther into his shell.

"Laurë, please! Whatever you suffered, let me share it with you. Don't keep it to yourself, it's destroying you. I can help," Nelyo was feeling desperate. He couldn't loose his brother. Disregarding the alarm bells in his head, Nelyo reached over to embrace his brother. Makalaurë pushed away Nelyo's comforting arms, staggering away until his back was to the tent wall. Nelyo fragile self-control, worn very thin over the past few weeks, snapped at Makalaurë's refusal.

"Fine! Be that way! If you're too blind to see that everything I've done lately has been for you then so be it!" Nelyo exploded, "Keep your secrets! But just so that you know, I've been over here for weeks, nursing you back to health, putting off my duties as king. The least you could do is acknowledge that! I never knew you were so selfish!"

Makalaurë blinked at his livid brother in fear, mouth opening and closing like he had forgotten that he couldn't speak. He then coward down, as though he was expecting to be struck or beaten. However, no blow ever came. Nelyo turned heel and stalked out of the tent.

In his anger, Nelyo barely felt the bitter wind biting at his exposed skin. He walked stiffly through the gale, no destination in mind, just away. As he walked, he replayed the scene in his head. Guilt began creeping into Nelyo as he remembered the fear written across Makalaurë's face during the exchange. How could he have been so blind? It was so glaringly obvious that Makalaurë was still incredibly traumatized. And what had he done? He had gone and made it worse, all because he selfishly wanted his brother to open up to him the way he had when they when they were younger. Nelyo was so absorbed in his thoughts that he totally missed the smaller figure in his path. They collided with a crash, both Elves ending up on the ground.

"Morgoth's hairy armpits!" A voice exclaimed. Nelyo blinked, recognizing the voice, but not the colorful expletive.

"Finno?"

"What's gotten into you?" Findekáno groused from where he was sprawled, half-heartedly glaring at the redhead, "Can't you at least watch where you're going? I know I'm short, but I'm not that short."

Nelyo's face fell a bit more at the comment as he felt even more frustrated with his failings. Findekáno's brow furrowed as he noticed the lack of jovial response to their old joke and the change in Nelyo's posture.

"Nelyo? What's wrong? Is it Maka? Is he ok?"

"No….He….Maka…. It's complicated," Nelyo groaned, burying his face in his hands. He was barely aware of sitting there for several long minutes before Findekáno dragged him into a nearly by tent, out of the storm. The next thing he truly knew was that Findekáno was thrusting a steaming mug into his hand. Nelyo automatically took a sip of the beverage and nearly choked on the bitter taste of the herbal tea. He went to spit it out, but changed his mind once he saw the look on Findekáno's face. Nelyo quickly swallowed the mouthful of hot beverage. Findekáno watched him unimpressed, so Nelyo continued to drink the tea. He had nearly drained the cup before Findekáno spoke again.

"Now, what's the matter?" Findekáno asked.

"I screwed up. I screwed everything up bad," Nelyo avoided Findekáno's eyes, choosing instead to look down at his almost empty mug.

"Mmmh, and why do you thing that?" Findekáno's indicated that he didn't believe his cousin, but was willing to humor him.

"I got mad at Maka."

"And…?"

"I wanted him to tell me what was wrong, what happened to him. I think I pushed him too hard. I tried to get him open up, but he didn't want to. I might have yelled him and that terrified him," Nelyo admitted slowly.

Findekáno chewed on his cheek for several minutes before answering.

"I think…" he said slowly, "I think you are correct; you screwed up royally."

Nelyo gave him an exasperated look.

"But," Findekáno continued, "I don't think the damage is permanent. You probably scared him pretty good, but he'll come around. You just have to be patient with him. Let him take his own time."

"I can't, Finno, that's the problem," Nelyo cried in frustration, he set the mug down hard and the remainder of the tea splashed onto his hand, "He won't open up to anyone at all, he just closes up even tighter. I can't sit around being idle and watch him isolate himself."

"Then don't. Be there for him, even if he doesn't want to talk yet. He needs you to be his support. Yeah, you probably hurt him, but it would hurt him more if you abandoned him. As for opening up, I would imagine that he wants to tell you everything, but he's still processing it, so give him time."

"He won't want me near him, not after what I said," Nelyo pointed out morosely, drying his tea wettened hand on his cloak.

"Well, maybe not right now. It might take a while, but he'll come around. I suppose that you should apologize to him, for starters," Findekáno reasoned. Nelyo though over what his cousin had said before nodding.

"I'll do that. You'll come with me?" Nelyo didn't like how insecure he sounded, but he didn't want to be there alone.

"Of course," Findekáno responded without hesitation.

The two Elves left the warmth of tent and braved the worsening weather to make it across camp. The healer's was uncharacteristically dark as they entered.
"Makalaurë?" Findekáno called, his voice reverberating in the deep shadows that hung around them. No response came. After a few minutes of frantic searching, it became clear that the tent was empty. Makalaurë had fled.

Quenyan names/words:

Nelyo/Nelyafinwë/Maitimo/Russandol = Maedhros

Makaluarë/Kano/Kanafinwë = Maglor

Tyelko/Teylkormo/Turkafinwë = Celegorm

Carnister/Moryo/Morifinwë = Caranthir

Curvo = Curufin

Findekáno = Fingon

Toronya = brother (informal)